wfn.org | Actions of The 209th General Assembly (1997)

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26-August-1997 
97329 
 
             Actions of The 209th General Assembly (1997) 
 
                from the Office of the General Assembly 
 
Editor's note: The 209th General Assembly (1997) addressed some actions to 
various parts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): the whole church, 
Presbyterians, governing bodies, churches, sessions and congregations. 
They are printed here as they were received from the Office of the General 
Assembly (with their General Assembly reference numbers) -- Jerry L. Van 
Marter 
 
                 Directed to the whole church, Presbyterians 
 
    All members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are called to reclaim 
our common ground in Jesus Christ through a fresh commitment to "The Great 
Ends of the Church" (Book of Order, G- 1.0200). (28.0001-.0002) 
 
    All levels of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are called to be 
deliberate and pastoral in meeting the needs of all persons involved in 
sexual misconduct cases. (37.0057) 
 
    Members of the church are urged to continue working toward the 
enactment of public policies that have the stated goal of eradicating the 
conditions that lead to homelessness.  (Overture 97-51) 
 
    Presbyterians are called to assess the status of girls within their 
families, congregations, schools, and communities, and work to end 
inequality and discrimination in these spheres. (37.0085-.0088) 
 
    Middle governing bodies, sessions, and individuals are encouraged to 
pray for victims of human rights abuse and for those who persecute them. 
(35.0673) 
 
    All Presbyterians who visit the Middle East are urged to seek out the 
Christian communities, join with them in worship, become acquainted with 
their human-rights struggles, and seek ways to express Christian love, 
peace, and justice. (37.0320-.0328) 
 
    Presbyterians are called upon to learn more about the numerous issues 
related to the survival, care, and development of children nationally and 
globally, and to engage in abuse-prevention education within homes, 
congregations, and communities. (35.0078-.0081) 
 
    The Resolution on Disarmament Developments and Challenges urges 
congregations and presbyteries to present the concerns of the church 
regarding ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the 
implementation of the Chemical Weapons Treaty (CWT) to their senators and 
congresspersons. (35.0581-.0588) 
 
    The Resolution on the United States and Cuba: A Call for Change 
encourages presbyteries and Presbyterians to seek to be peacemakers by 
building relations with Cuba through visits, church-to- church exchanges, 
provision of humanitarian needs, study, and advocacy of the positions 
recommended by the General Assembly. (35.0640-.0651) 
 
    Presbyterians are asked, in their private and corporate prayer, to 
continue to lift up the needs of those who are persecuted and suffer 
because of the practice of their faith, and to designate the Sunday before 
Epiphany each year as a Day of Prayer for those persecuted and martyred for 
their faith. (35.0907) 
 
    Presbyterians are asked to make the Sudan a matter of urgent prayer. 
(Overture 97-75) 
 
                     Directed to governing bodies 
 
    November 20, the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the 
Child, has been declared a Day of Prayer. (37.0068) 
 
    All governing bodies are encouraged to plan for staff to undergo 
antiracism training by the year 2005. (36.0011) 
 
                      Directed to congregations 
 
    Congregations and governing bodies are encouraged to join in 
highlighting our common calling in the Great Ends of the Church. (28.0006) 
 
    Presbyteries and congregations are called upon and challenged to 
promote awareness and education about ways to alleviate the homelessness of 
women. (Overture 97-51) 
 
    Congregations are urged to encourage girls' participation in all 
church-related activities, and to assess those activities to see that they 
do not discourage or discriminate against girls. (37.0089-.0091) 
 
    Congregations are called to engage in study of the Convention on the 
Rights of the Child, advocate its ratification, and other appropriate 
actions in support of this convention. (35.0080) 
 
    Congregations are called to train staff and volunteers so they can 
better recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse and report to the proper 
authorities, and to review and develop church policies to protect children 
in the church setting; commended for reading: "We Won't Let It Happen Here! 
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in the Church." (35.0082-.0083) 
 
    Congregations, presbyteries, and synods are called upon to monitor the 
use of grants within their states to advocate for welfare programs that 
provide for the needs of all poor, including children, and to assist those 
in their midst who are the most vulnerable to the cuts in social benefits. 
(35.0084-.0085) 
 
    The General Assembly approved two major principles that guide (1) the 
ministry and witness of the church and (2) advocacy relating to government 
programs that address poverty and its causes.  Congregations, presbyteries, 
synods, and individual Presbyterians are called upon to advocate adoption 
by state and federal governments for policies regarding welfare. 
(35.0223-.0252) 
 
    The Resolution on Disarmament Developments and Challenges urges 
congregations and presbyteries to present the concerns of the church 
regarding ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the 
implementation of the Chemical Weapons Treaty (CWT) to their senators and 
congresspersons. (35.0581-.0588) 
 
    The Resolution on the United States and Cuba: A Call for Change 
encourages presbyteries and Presbyterians to seek to be peacemakers by 
building relations with Cuba through visits, church-to- church exchanges, 
provision of humanitarian needs, study, and advocacy of the positions 
recommended by the General Assembly. (35.0640-.0651) 
 
    Congregations and pastors are urged to welcome Sudanese Presbyterians 
into their congregations and to work with and support them as they form 
themselves into new congregations. (Commissioners' Resolution 97-9) 
 
    Congregations are urged to be open to nesting opportunities with 
emerging racial ethnic congregations where appropriate and feasible. 
(Alternate Resolution for Overture 97-22) 
 
    Churches are called upon to respond generously to the recent appeal 
from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for funds for food relief for North 
Korea. (Commissioners' Resolution 97-10) 
 
                        Directed to Sessions 
 
    Middle governing bodies, sessions, and individuals are encouraged to 
pray for victims of human rights abuse and for those who persecute them. 
(35.0673) 
 
    Sessions are urged to consider adoption of "Commitment to Peacemaking." 
(31.0399) 

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